Quote: Be Decisive

“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” - Napoleon Bonaparte

As Get Organized Month comes to an end, move an organizing project forward. Think, plan, then have at it. If you don’t like the results, you can always do something different.

Go for it!

Which project do you want to take on now? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value

Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Quote: Be Decisive

“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” - Napoleon Bonaparte

As Get Organized Month comes to an end, move an organizing project forward. Think, plan, then have at it. If you don’t like the results, you can always do something different.

Go for it!

Which project do you want to take on now? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value

Follow me on twitter and facebook

And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Living Large on Less

Last week I read the story of Joseph Fonseca, a writer who took an unusual path after graduating college.  Instead of looking for a conventional job, he decided to travel around the country and let his adventures inspire his writing. 
He lives on less than $20,000 a year, and can pack everything he owns into “four medium-size cardboard boxes, a suitcase and one over-the-shoulder bag.”

Obviously, this kind of life isn’t for everyone; however, he makes some good points about accumulating.

"Possessions tend to breed more possessions. Once I started ridding myself of them, it became clear just how little I needed and how easy it was to live without."

Fonseca is conducting this experiment in itinerant living for a reason.  He budgets his money very carefully and is always prepared for the “worst-case-scenario.” 

"The fact remains, though, budgeting is only half the story. Even the most fiscally responsible person is going to fall off track unless he has a purpose, a goal worth saving toward."

His goal is detailed on his 10 cities/10 Years blog. I’m guessing that we’ll see a book deal soon.

Could you live this way for even one year? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook 
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

Living Large on Less

Last week I read the story of Joseph Fonseca, a writer who took an unusual path after graduating college.  Instead of looking for a conventional job, he decided to travel around the country and let his adventures inspire his writing. 
He lives on less than $20,000 a year, and can pack everything he owns into “four medium-size cardboard boxes, a suitcase and one over-the-shoulder bag.”

Obviously, this kind of life isn’t for everyone; however, he makes some good points about accumulating.

"Possessions tend to breed more possessions. Once I started ridding myself of them, it became clear just how little I needed and how easy it was to live without."

Fonseca is conducting this experiment in itinerant living for a reason.  He budgets his money very carefully and is always prepared for the “worst-case-scenario.” 

"The fact remains, though, budgeting is only half the story. Even the most fiscally responsible person is going to fall off track unless he has a purpose, a goal worth saving toward."

His goal is detailed on his 10 cities/10 Years blog. I’m guessing that we’ll see a book deal soon.

Could you live this way for even one year? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Save time and money by letting go of what you don't need and finding room for what you value
Follow me on twitter and facebook 
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

When It’s Okay Not to Finish, Pt. II

Two months ago, I wrote about not finishing something when you lose interest in it. It can be hard to acknowledge that something you once had an attachment to is now a burden instead of a pleasure. When that happens, it’s time to let go.

Another good reason to drop a task is when it has little or no payoff.  Have you been sending a report that no one reads or going to meetings where nothing is accomplished?  Do you hold onto projects because you think you should get back to them sometime?  Are you the person everyone else relies on to make important decisions?  When you don’t get positive feedback from these activities and you can be sure that your health or your livelihood won’t suffer, give serious consideration to stopping.

You might may feel angry or offended when you send greeting cards to everyone who has ever sent you a card, but then you stop hearing back from some of them.  Perhaps you volunteer for tasks that no one else wants to take on.  Think about why you continue to do these things.  What are you getting out of it?  Do you want to feel indispensible or persevering or determined? 

Before you take on another obligation, consider how you will measure the results and decide how you can end it if things aren’t going well.  Do you have a project you would like to let go? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Saving you time and money by helping you let go of what you don't need and find room for what you value.
Follow me on twitter and facebook
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

When It’s Okay Not to Finish, Pt. II

Two months ago, I wrote about not finishing something when you lose interest in it. It can be hard to acknowledge that something you once had an attachment to is now a burden instead of a pleasure. When that happens, it’s time to let go.

Another good reason to drop a task is when it has little or no payoff.  Have you been sending a report that no one reads or going to meetings where nothing is accomplished?  Do you hold onto projects because you think you should get back to them sometime?  Are you the person everyone else relies on to make important decisions?  When you don’t get positive feedback from these activities and you can be sure that your health or your livelihood won’t suffer, give serious consideration to stopping.

You might may feel angry or offended when you send greeting cards to everyone who has ever sent you a card, but then you stop hearing back from some of them.  Perhaps you volunteer for tasks that no one else wants to take on.  Think about why you continue to do these things.  What are you getting out of it?  Do you want to feel indispensible or persevering or determined? 

Before you take on another obligation, consider how you will measure the results and decide how you can end it if things aren’t going well.  Do you have a project you would like to let go? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us.

Organized by MarcieTM: Saving you time and money by helping you let go of what you don't need and find room for what you value.
Follow me on twitter and facebook
And if you like what you've read, share it using the links below!

News from the Batcave

Within 10 days I had two wildlife specialists in my house responding to two bat sightings. Since then, I had some modifications made to ensure the bats aren’t able to return.

Although I am still walking around in a state of moderate anxiety, I am slowly moving toward acceptance that the bats are gone and not coming back. The worst part of this experience has been the feeling that I am not comfortable in my own home. I didn’t want my family to be in the house and I couldn’t sleep here.

The only good thing to come out of it, as far as I can see, is the knowledge that my lack of clutter leaves little room for creatures to hide. If I had overstuffed closets and clutter piled up around the house, the bat hunters wouldn’t have been able to do their jobs easily. In addition, I would be even more concerned than I already am that the bat family was still lodging here.

With no bats seen in the last week, what I need now is a good night’s sleep.

If you had to have a technician or other unexpected visitor come into your home immediately, would you be confident or would you feel embarassed? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us about it.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

News from the Batcave

Within 10 days I had two wildlife specialists in my house responding to two bat sightings. Since then, I had some modifications made to ensure the bats aren’t able to return.

Although I am still walking around in a state of moderate anxiety, I am slowly moving toward acceptance that the bats are gone and not coming back. The worst part of this experience has been the feeling that I am not comfortable in my own home. I didn’t want my family to be in the house and I couldn’t sleep here.

The only good thing to come out of it, as far as I can see, is the knowledge that my lack of clutter leaves little room for creatures to hide. If I had overstuffed closets and clutter piled up around the house, the bat hunters wouldn’t have been able to do their jobs easily. In addition, I would be even more concerned than I already am that the bat family was still lodging here.

With no bats seen in the last week, what I need now is a good night’s sleep.

If you had to have a technician or other unexpected visitor come into your home immediately, would you be confident or would you feel embarassed? Click on Post a Comment, below, and tell us about it.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

How To…Just About Anything

Have you discovered ehow? You can learn about any number of things on the website, including travel, cooking, business, health, finance and gardening. “Certified experts” and “everyday people” with subject knowledge have contributed more than 1 million articles and 170,000 videos.

Some of the posts are more detailed than others, but they can lead you to complete a project that you may have started and felt unable to finish.

You can view my first article at http://bit.ly/5sYjql and get inspired to find the time to start getting your life organized.

Today is also the day we announce the winner of the P-touch labeler. And the winner is…AnnieB! Please send me an email with your address so I can send it to you. Thank you to everyone who left a comment.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

How To…Just About Anything

Have you discovered ehow? You can learn about any number of things on the website, including travel, cooking, business, health, finance and gardening. “Certified experts” and “everyday people” with subject knowledge have contributed more than 1 million articles and 170,000 videos.

Some of the posts are more detailed than others, but they can lead you to complete a project that you may have started and felt unable to finish.

You can view my first article at http://bit.ly/5sYjql and get inspired to find the time to start getting your life organized.

Today is also the day we announce the winner of the P-touch labeler. And the winner is…AnnieB! Please send me an email with your address so I can send it to you. Thank you to everyone who left a comment.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/organizedmarcie

It’s Just Like Riding a Bike

You’ve probably heard the saying “It’s like riding a bike.” People usually say it when they mean that you can pick something up that you haven’t done in a long time.

Last week I was on vacation and I rode a bike for the first time in 15 years. It was rough starting out, but once I found my balance (and got over the toe-clip issue), it all came back. As I was pedaling along in the woods, I thought about the old saying and realized that it could refer to any number of actions that people just stop doing.

Are you someone who used to have a great system for filing your paperwork, but instead of filing, you’ve been piling lately?

Did you put things away until you had kids and then you started to settle for dumping in any available container so your house looked tidy?

Did you stop doing household chores regularly because you were so tired from working long hours? Did that lead to buying things you already had because you were too tired to look for them?

It is true, you can go back to something you once did. Whether it’s something you truly enjoy or just something that needs to get done to make your life easier, get “back on the bike.”

What habits would you like to return to?

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

It’s Just Like Riding a Bike

You’ve probably heard the saying “It’s like riding a bike.” People usually say it when they mean that you can pick something up that you haven’t done in a long time.

Last week I was on vacation and I rode a bike for the first time in 15 years. It was rough starting out, but once I found my balance (and got over the toe-clip issue), it all came back. As I was pedaling along in the woods, I thought about the old saying and realized that it could refer to any number of actions that people just stop doing.

Are you someone who used to have a great system for filing your paperwork, but instead of filing, you’ve been piling lately?

Did you put things away until you had kids and then you started to settle for dumping in any available container so your house looked tidy?

Did you stop doing household chores regularly because you were so tired from working long hours? Did that lead to buying things you already had because you were too tired to look for them?

It is true, you can go back to something you once did. Whether it’s something you truly enjoy or just something that needs to get done to make your life easier, get “back on the bike.”

What habits would you like to return to?

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Letting Go and Living More

I just finished reading a great book. While it’s targeted to women who are new to the business world, I think it has a lot of useful information for anyone who works. Basic Black, by Cathie Black, is “The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life).”

The author shares a story in the chapter titled “Risk” that translates well to organizing. She writes:

It’s like the monkey parable: A monkey sees a nut in a hole and reaches in to
grab it. Once he closes his fist around it, he can’t get his hand back out of
the narrow opening. Now he’s stuck. He can’t free himself unless he lets go of
the nut, but because he’s afraid to lose it, he won’t let go.

What are you holding on to that is keeping you from moving forward? Is there a habit or physical object that you haven’t been able to let go of? Is fear keeping you from getting rid of something? Take a small risk to start out with – throw away or give away something you don’t like. Build up to larger risks and observe the effect they have on your life.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!

Letting Go and Living More

I just finished reading a great book. While it’s targeted to women who are new to the business world, I think it has a lot of useful information for anyone who works. Basic Black, by Cathie Black, is “The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life).”

The author shares a story in the chapter titled “Risk” that translates well to organizing. She writes:

It’s like the monkey parable: A monkey sees a nut in a hole and reaches in to
grab it. Once he closes his fist around it, he can’t get his hand back out of
the narrow opening. Now he’s stuck. He can’t free himself unless he lets go of
the nut, but because he’s afraid to lose it, he won’t let go.

What are you holding on to that is keeping you from moving forward? Is there a habit or physical object that you haven’t been able to let go of? Is fear keeping you from getting rid of something? Take a small risk to start out with – throw away or give away something you don’t like. Build up to larger risks and observe the effect they have on your life.

Organized by Marcie: Getting you organized so you have time to do what you love to do!